[NEohioPAL] Berko review: INTO THE WOODS (GLTF)

[Roy Berko]

 ‘INTO THE
WOODS’ delights at GREAT LAKES
 
Roy Berko
 
(Member,
American Theatre Critics Association)
 
--THE TIMES
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Have you ever asked yourself what happens following the “and
they lived happily ever after” at the conclusion of most fairy tales?  Do you think everything is rosy for the
prince and his beloved, or for Jack and his mother after they get the hen that
lays the golden eggs?  Well, after
watching ‘INTO THE WOODS’ at Great Lakes Theatre Festival, you might change
your mind.
 
Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s musical, which was
inspired by Bruno
Bettelheim's THE USES OF ENCHANTMENT,intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales in the first
act and then explores the consequences of the characters' wishes and quests in
the second act. The main characters are taken from “Little Red
Riding Hood,” “Jack and the
Beanstalk,” “Rapunzel,”
and “Cinderella,” tied together
by a story involving a Baker and his wife and their quest for a family. 
 
‘INTO THE WOODS’premiered on Broadway in 1987.  Bernadette Peters'
portrayed the Witch, and Joanna Gleason was the Baker's Wife.  It  won Tony Awards for Best Score,
and Best Book in a year dominated by ‘THE PHANTOM
OF THE OPERA.’
 
This is one of Sondheim’s most beautiful and accessible
scores.  It includes the poignant
“No More,” “No One is Alone,’ and “Children Will Listen.”  The music lingers in your mind long
after the production.
 
As proven by Great Lakes Theatre Festival’s ‘MACBETH,’ which
opened last week and now ‘INTO THE WOODS,’ GLTF is on a roll.  It might be their new refurbished home
in the beautiful Hanna Theatre, or it may be a change in attitude; but,
whatever it is…audiences are in for a treat.
 
Director Victoria Bussert and choreographer Martin Cespedes
create ever-involving stage pictures, which are framed by Scenic Designer Jeff
Herman’s creative set.  (Be sure to
look for the faces and figures cleverly interwoven into the trees, which
overlook the happenings.)  Charlotte
Yetman’s costumes, Norman Coates lighting and Stan Kozak’s sound design help
complete the illusion.
 
Musical Director John Jay Espino and his well-tuned
orchestra generally do a good job of backing up rather than drowning out the
singers.
 
The cast is uniformly excellent.  Jodi Dominick sings well and creates the right empathy as
the Baker’s wife.  Tom Ford, he of
sad and mobile face, is excellent as the Baker.  Jessica L. Cope has a compelling singing voice and creates a
Witch who is delightfully witchy.  Derrick Cobey makes for a great wolf, but overacts and postures too much
as Cinderella’s Prince.  Maryann
Nagel is a fine fuss-budget as Jack’s mother.  Tim Try is perfectly nerdy as Jack.  Mark Moritz does a nice job of
transitioning between being the Narrator and the Mysterious Man.  Emily Krieger creates the right image
as Cinderella, but is often difficult to hear during her songs.
 
CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:   GLTF’s ‘INTO THE WOODS’ is a delightful production
which entertains completely.  It’s
a go see!
 For
tickets to ‘MACBETH,’ which is runs in repertory with ‘INTO THE WOODS’ through
November 7, call 216-241-6000 or visit www.greatlakestheater.org. Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 2008, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info

His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com and NeOHIOpal (to subscribe visit http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/neohiopal.)